The Privateer 2: AN HONEST LIVING

by Zellmann, William

  But these beasts were well trained, and didn't even miss a step. Now the warriors were shouting war cries and shaking what appeared to be lances or spears.

  The 'bot reached the lifeboat, and clung to Dee's chest as they cycled through the tiny, suit-shaped lock. Cale fired one more bolt before following them into the airlock and sealing it. Just as the hatch dropped into place, a wood shaft flew through the opening. It missed Cale by a fraction of an inch, and was snapped in half by the heavy hatch door.

  They hurried into the cabin, staring at the viewscreen. The nomads were circling the small ship, shouting and waving their spears. One had dismounted, and was banging on the hatch with what appeared to be a stone axe.

  "Thank you, Tess," Dee said quietly. "Without your 'bot I might not have made it in time. Those things are fast!"

  Another nomad dismounted and began climbing up the hull, apparently heading for the small vessel's windscreen. Though it was equipped with a viewscreen, most lifeboats were equipped with a thick plas windscreen for in-atmosphere maneuvering.

  "Can we stop him?" Dee asked.

  Cale shook his head. "I'm afraid not, Dee." Suddenly he grinned. "At least not until he gets to the windscreen!"

  The nomad struggled over the smooth surface of the small vessel. Finally, he threw out a hand that landed on the plas. Cale grinned and flipped a switch. The nomad yelped and tumbled to the ground. In a moment, he bounced to his feet, shouting and waving his fist at the windscreen. Cale grinned. "Electrostatic cleaner. It's for rain. Works good for nomads, though."

  "Cale," Tess said. "I recommend you lift off. I must remind you that we do not know what old knowledge they retain. The airlock hatch control is designed to be operated by injured and untrained people."

  Cale looked startled, and then nodded. "You're right, Tess. We can't afford to play with these people; they're not playing. They're dead serious, with the emphasis on 'dead'. But how can we lift off without hurting anyone?"

  Dee looked suddenly relieved, and Cale scowled, suddenly reminded that she knew of his pirate history, and had half expected him to simply lift, incinerating the nomads. Her almost obvious concern that he would continue a pirate's bloodthirsty ways, despite his flight from that life, was annoying.

  "I'm especially worried about that fool pounding on the hull," he continued. "I can't lift off with him there."

  "I suggest a short burst of the lift engine. I suspect that a singeing will encourage him to back off."

  "I don't want to hurt him," Cale protested.

  "I am confident he will suffer only minor burns," Tess assured him. "But the pain should drive him to retreat, and the burst of smoke and fire should encourage the others to move out of range. I could not do it, of course, but I can recommend it as a course of action."

  Cale's grin resurfaced. "Recommendation accepted," he said, and slapped the takeoff button twice rapidly. There was a 'Whoof' and a burst of smoke and fire. When it cleared, the nomad who'd been banging on the hull was running at top speed in pursuit of his mount, which, like all the others, was fleeing with all their incredible speed away from the ship. The mounted nomads did not appear to be trying to slow or stop their mounts. In moments, they were well clear, and Cale lifted off.

  "Well, now what?" Cale asked when safely ensconced in Cheetah's lounge once more. "If they were able to predict our arrival there, they'll be able to predict the last one."

  "I agree," Tess replied. "Probability approaches certainty. I recommend we skip the last stop, and move on to the inhabited area."

  Dee shrugged. "Well, we certainly can't gather samples while fighting off nomads. We should move on."

  Cale frowned. "I've seen those things they're riding, but it wasn't on Jumbo."

  "They bear a resemblance to a prehistoric creature that existed on Old Earth called 'dinosaurs', specifically 'therapod dinosaurs'," Tess replied. "Though these are only about twenty feet long. The old records indicate that they were called 'dinos', and were genetically engineered for speed as riding animals. Apparently, visitors were enthusiastic about having holos taken of them riding a 'dinosaur'. They were also bred for racing, and 'dino' racing and betting produced significant revenue for Jumbo. Therapods are best known as carnivores, but these are herbivores, of course. It seems the nomads have made good use of them, though the records indicate that they must consume large amounts of food to support their metabolism."

  Dee shuddered. "Those things are fast! I can see how the nomads are able to enforce their border with the inhabited lands."

  "I hope you got a lot of good images, Tess," Cale said. "Our clients will need to know about those things, and about the nomads that ride them."

  "They are well-documented in the old records," Tess replied, "and our observations will add current knowledge. Our clients will not be unprepared."

  "So, what now?" Dee demanded. "Where's the best place for us to ground in that inhabited belt?" She grinned. "By that I mean the least likely place to get shot at!"

  Cale shrugged. "It seems obvious to me. The area around Valhalla seems significantly more advanced than the rest of the inhabited area. I want to know why. And besides, I suspect they'll have at least a basic concept of 'science', and be the most likely to talk before shooting or running off."

  Dee smiled. "Or burning us as witches." She shrugged. "That makes sense. How do you think we should do it? Should we just set Cheetah down in the courtyard of that castle, or fortress, or whatever it is?"

  Cale began shaking his head even as she spoke. "Definitely not. It would look too much like an attack, and would be certain to touch off a violent response. I do think we should use Cheetah instead of the lifeboat, though. Appearing in a ball of fire in a ship the size of Cheetah should impress the locals, and give them a hint that talking would be better than shooting."

  "I agree," said Tess. "I recommend we ground at the edge of their town, stay sealed up, and wait for developments. My studies of similar periods in Old Earth history would indicate that they will probably first send out soldiers to intimidate us or fight us, but if we don't react to being encircled by them, I suspect the local king will send a courtier to find out about us within a few hours."

  Cale nodded. "Sounds reasonable to me. Let's hope it sounds reasonable to them."

  They grounded without incident, though the viewscreen showed people and animals streaming from the area in panic.

  But only moments after landing, Tess said, "Cale, I have to report we have started a fire. If we do not extinguish it, it will damage a crop field. Shall I send a 'bot?"

  Cale shook his head. "No, Tess. I'll handle it. There's no doubt we're being watched, and if they see one of your spider 'bots, they'll really panic. Do we have some sort of extinguisher?"

  "A tank of fire foam is on its way to the airlock as we speak. It will be quite effective, and will quickly dissipate, leaving no residue."

  Cale was hurrying toward the airlock. "Good. With any luck I can get it put out before their soldiers or fire brigade get here."

  The fire foam was very effective, and Cale had the fire almost extinguished when Tess said, "Cale! Twelve soldiers mounted on dinos just left the castle. Estimated time of arrival less than two minutes. You should return immediately."

  Cale cursed. "Just finishing up, Tess. I'll be right in. I don't want to be caught out here." He sprayed the last of the fire, and then grabbing the foam tank, he ran awkwardly back to the airlock. By the time he arrived there, he could already make out the features of the leading soldier. He was greatly relieved when the lock door slammed down behind him. He stood for a moment with his eyes closed, trying to regain control of his excitement and his breathing before opening the lock's inner door.

  The soldiers were remarkably efficient, considering their background. Their commander sent six men to encircle Cheetah in pairs, with the other six spread out in front of the airlock. The soldiers talked quietly among themselves, but they never relaxed their vigilance. Good troops, Cale decided. They did
not wear uniforms, but each of them wore a blue-and-gray tunic over his breastplate. Cale noted that the breastplates were leather, laid in a scale pattern and studded with metal.

  "Tess," he said as something occurred to him, "Can you listen in on their conversation? Their language is probably based on Standard, but maybe we can begin putting together a vocabulary of the changes."

  "I have been doing so, Cale," Tess replied. "So far, it appears that most of the deviation is in pronunciation, though of course there are new and different words as well. I am attempting to create programming for standard translators, but I suspect you will understand each other."

  "Good!" Cale said with a sigh of relief. "I was afraid the deviation might be so bad we'd have to fall back on 'Me Cale. You?'"

  Tess' tone was amused. "I suspect you'll have little difficulty, as long as you speak slowly and clearly. It appears there is greater deviation on some of the worlds we have visited."

  It was almost two hours later when Tess reported, "A rather strange vehicle is leaving the castle and heading this way."

  "Good!" Cale replied. "That should be some courtier sent by the king." He grinned. "Probably one the king thinks won't be missed if something bad happens."

  It took over fifteen minutes for the cumbersome vehicle to lumber from the castle to the ship. The thing was huge, considering it had passenger accommodations for only about four. In fact, now, it carried only one passenger. Of course, it also had a crew of three. One seemed occupied with throwing balks of wood into what appeared to be a boiler. A second operated an array of what appeared to be valve wheels. The third was mounted high on the back, apparently steering the rear wheels by a tiller. The front of the thing was decorated by a large figurehead carving of a fanciful monster, belching steam.

  "I have been reviewing my files," Tess reported. "I am sure it is powered by steam, though I have not succeeded in locating the engine itself among that assemblage of piping. It is an example of the anomalies we have been discussing. Such a vehicle seems inconsistent with a feudal society. On Old Earth, similar vehicles were not developed until the rise of cities and the early industrial revolution."

  "Are you sure, Tess?" Dee asked. "It appears to be just a big pot of water boiling over a wood fire, with the steam captured and used to drive the wheels. The steam is even allowed to escape out the back without being recirculated. It doesn't look very 'advanced' to me."

  "But it is, Dee," Cale replied. "You're right about the boiler system, but that's not the hard part. Anyone who's ever watched a teakettle could figure that out. No, the hard part is putting the steam to work. I'd be interested in seeing that thing's engine." He paused. "If they offer us a ride, don't accept! The passengers sit right in front of the boiler. I'd bet those things blow up regularly, and I don't care to be blown up with it!"

  "I agree," Tess added. "That man controlling the valves does not even have a pressure gauge to monitor. He probably adjusts his valves based on the amount of steam exiting out the rear. I hypothesize that the vehicle is experimental. It is the only one apparent, and is much too dangerous for general use. I suspect they are trying to impress us."

  Cale shook his head. "Well, they could impress me by parking that thing at a respectful distance!"

  Actually, they did park it at a respectful distance, apparently to protect it from harm by the occupants of the ship.

  The vehicle clanked to a halt in a cloud of steam. They could just make out the wood-thrower now throwing his weight against a lever whose other end pressed on a wheel. The Valve man frantically spun his wheels, and the cloud grew denser. By the time it cleared, the wood handler had dismounted and was throwing one of his chunks of wood in front of a wheel. The driver and the valve man had also dismounted, and were bowing deeply as a man in late middle age descended from the passenger compartment. The man was pudgy and short, and wore the most outlandish garb Cale had ever seen; Robes of dark blue were decorated with a sprinkling of silver and gold stars and comets. A hat with a pointed crown and ridiculously wide brim capped this vision. A mop of graying hair escaped beneath the remarkable hat.

  The wood handler and the soldiers joined the others in holding a deep bow as the man strutted toward the ship.

  Cale struggled to suppress a grin at the apparition. Dee didn't even try. "Well," Cale said, "I guess that's my cue. Now, Dee, don't get upset if he only talks to me, or if he treats you like a decoration. Primitive societies tend of be paternalistic."

  Dee grimaced. "I understand," she said. "So, what's your excuse?"

  Cale rolled his eyes as he headed for the airlock. The outer hatch opened just as the man approached it, revealing Cale standing, nodding to his visitor.

  Chapter 3

  "So," the man began gruffly, "T'empire 'turns!"

  Cale was beginning to analyze this phrase when Tess murmured in his ear. "So, The Empire returns."

  Cale smiled and shook his head. "The Empire is dead. It was destroyed less than a century after abandoning Jumbo."

  The man frowned, apparently analyzing Cale's statement. After a moment his face cleared. "Ah! Of course! You speak like the old ones!" He paused, then resumed slowly and clearly. "I am Hiraf Jennis, Chief Wizard of this domain. I was sent by my sovereign, King Rajo, to greet you and learn of your intentions."

  Cale bowed. Taking Hiraf's hint, he spoke slowly and clearly. "Will you come aboard, my lord? We should have comfort and privacy for our discussions."

  Hiraf's eyes lit with obvious enthusiasm. Cale deployed the boarding ladder, and Hiraf scrambled up it, cursing his robes.

  "Two doors?" Hiraf questioned, and then answered himself. "Of course. For there is no air between the stars."

  Cale nodded as they stepped into Cheetah's lounge. "Correct, my lord. I am Cale Rankin, and this is my lady wife, Delilah Rankin, of the world called Faith."

  Hiraf's head had been swiveling nonstop since they had entered, but now it stopped as he focused on Dee. He bowed deeply. "An honor, my lady," he said. "The old books talked of women doing such tasks as exploration, but women are so precious to us here that we dare not risk them." He turned to Cale. "And this magnificent vessel is flown by just two?"

  Cale smiled. "No, I'm afraid not. We have another crewperson, Tess. I'm afraid she is unable to greet you as she is busy with important duties."

  Hiraf's eyebrows rose. "Ah? Two women? Remarkable." He straightened. "And what is it you do here, sire Rankin? Why has a star man returned to Jumbo?"

  Cale frowned. "We have come to tell you that, sir. But it will require some explanation. Meanwhile, however, can you tell us how this has happened to Jumbo? We have only the old Empire records, and they end with the Empire's abandonment of Jumbo. We would also like to know why Valhalla seems so much more advanced than the rest of the inhabited areas of Jumbo."

  The little man grinned widely. "Ha! You are speaking to the man best-equipped on the planet to tell you that story!"

  The abandonment was the final straw, sending the anti-Empire Populists into the streets in weeklong riots. Their fury led them to destroy anything they associated with the Empire. The empty Governor's palace was burned, along with the huge library that had been an Emperor's gift. Even the power plants were razed and stripped of their valuable heavy metals. Uniformed techs in any discipline were mobbed and killed. The leader of the movement tried to calm the rioters and limit the damage, but the rioters were in a blood rage. They surged through the capital city, destroying anything and anyone who could be identified with the Empire. By the time the last Empire representatives reached the system's jump point, the destruction of civilization on Jumbo was well underway.

  Similar carnage occurred in the planet's other cities, though on a lesser scale. Warned by the happenings in the capital, city governments moved to control the rioting, with varying success.

  For a while, there was power outside the capital, as undamaged rural power plants continued to operate and broadcast power. But the capital and the other cities were dark, uninh
abitable. Only a few scavengers remained, living by looting. But as the water soured and food stocks were depleted, even they were forced into the countryside.

  Refugees streamed from the cities, hungry, frightened, and desperate. The countryside was unable to cope with this flood. Bands of hungry, desperate people roamed the land. Farms were overrun, their livestock butchered, their crops ruined. Power receptors were ripped out for the valuable metals they contained. Eventually, now-useless generators were also stripped for their metal. The downward spiral turned steep. Millions died in rioting, starvation, and murder. Order broke down.

  "So fast?" Cale questioned, shocked by the suddenness of it.

  Hiraf nodded. "In less than a year, Jumbo went from an advanced, civilized planet to using wood and dung for heat and light." He sighed. "Apparently, civilization is only a thin veneer over a core of barbarism."

  The cities were deserted and in ruins. Without power, they were unlivable. Small farming communities began to again dot the landscape. But now they were walled and defended against the marauding bands that roamed Jumbo. Many of the communities had "warrior" leaders. Wars were frequent and bloody, for pride, wealth, or slaves. "Kings" ruled domains that could be crossed in a day. Farms were limited in size by the ability of the farmers to tend their crops by hand, as well as the necessity to not stray too far from the defended walls. It was a stable, if subsistence-level system, and it lasted for centuries.

  "Ah, but then," Hiraf continued, "about 75 years ago, a young man made a find that changed the history of this part of Jumbo. By that time, the old cities were taboo. They are still considered lairs where the old evil dwells. But, whether from courage or desperation, Raf Jennis began exploring the edges of the old city of Valhalla, seeking metals and other valuables.

  "He broke into the basement of a store building, and found himself in a very orderly, if dust-covered, room crammed with boxes full of memory chips. In the center of the cluttered space was a reader, attached to a motor, itself attached to a device featuring an obvious pedal mechanism. He began pedaling, and was terrified when an image formed above the reader and began speaking. He fled, and did not return for many days.